Sweeter Than Wine

by Hestand, Rita

  She'd never known such pleasures as he evoked, with his slow meaningful gestures. Once he came up on her thigh, he rolled her over.

  "What, what are you doing?" she asked, shocked, and excited all in one. She wanted; no needed him inside her, but this was different. His lips moved the t-shirt away so he could look at her round hips. His hands slid beneath her so he could heat her there too, as he lifted her to his face and began kissing her there. His thumb absently stroked her hard nub as his lips delved against the crevice of her backside, kissing, and licking, pushing her into his face, and smothering her with hot, wet kisses. His tongue darted out to delve deeper, she felt herself grow hot thinking about what he was doing, and enjoying the sensations he evoked with his lips and tongue. She quivered against him. "There isn't an inch of you I don't want." He sighed against her.

  She sighed, "There isn't an inch you can't have…"

  In one flip, he turned her back over and dipped his head into her love nest. His lips working magic against her as every lap of his tongue sent a streak of fire through her. She felt herself grow hot, wanton, and needy. She felt her breast pucker. She let the sensations wash over her, like a tide picking her up and tossing her into heaven. She moaned the pleasure he gave her.

  Without stopping though, she began to climb the mountain of ecstasy herself. Her hips rose to meet his tongue eagerly, hungrily, as she touched the heavens of his lovemaking.

  For long lingering minutes she clutched him, needing to be closer, needing to move against that wet, hot tongue more and more. She panted, humped, and groaned from the sheer pleasure he created in her. Then she pulled him up and kissed him, tasting once more the love that came between them.

  "It's my turn," she whispered as she slowly came down from the clouds.

  He smiled, and lay flat on the bed, "Okay, woman, you can have me…."

  She turned upside down, so that her hips were in his face and took him in her mouth, moving ultra slow over the tip of him, then down and up until he began to move against her.

  The bed rocked, and suddenly, he pulled her hips to his mouth and kissed her while she kissed him. She moaned against him as he kissed her. She pulled her t-shirt off and turned around, her face flushed and hot.

  "I'm yours. Do whatever you want to me." she said softly.

  "My God, you are more than I can handle. Just looking at you, come here, sweetheart." He murmured.

  The kiss was long, hot, and full of promises. Without another word he entered her and his hands played against her breasts like a child playing with a toy, feeling them, tasting them, and looking at them. His eyes burned into her as she began to move exotically against him. He watched as she pulled her hair up and gently let it down, her breast prominently postured upward. His hands kneaded her hips.

  When she arched her back, he took her all the way, pushing himself into her so deep she groaned with pleasure.

  "Oh Sam," she collapsed upon his chest and as his hands gently kneaded her breast, his lips found hers and they kissed until they reached the utopia that only lovers find.

  Her lips were raw, from his kisses. Her body was wet with sweat, but they lay solidly together all through the night. Every now and then, one of them would wake up and they began loving on the other until they were both awake and ready.

  By morning they were exhausted and filled with each other.

  Happiness spread through Lacey like a rainbow reaching for the pot of gold. Her love for this man knew no bounds. Their love making so complete that nothing could mar the euphoria they shared now.

  His touch was soft and tender, his kisses hot, and it was impossible to turn away from him. She wanted to feel his arms around her, wanted to feel his hands on her, wanted to feel him inside her once more. She wished she could deny him, but it wasn't in her. Sam had literally swept her away and she knew it.

  Her heart was going to break into a million pieces when they said goodbye, she knew that, but for now, when he needed her so, she was going to be there for him.

  She'd never forget these moments or this vacation.

  "Thank you for coming with me…here." He said in a strained voice. "I'm not sure I would have ever done it, without you."

  "Sure you would, your curiosity would have gotten the best of you, sooner or later." She smiled against him. "I'm so glad we came. Now you have a real family and you will soon figure out where you belong."

  "I've never known a woman so giving as you," he whispered as he took her mouth in a kiss that stole her breath and heart. "You've never asked for anything. You give me your all."

  He relaxed and as his fingers dipped into her gently, he held her, kissed her, and spoke soft love words to her as morning peaked over the horizon.

  Chapter Twelve

  When they went downstairs, Kasie was fixing a huge breakfast. Chayton was close by. The aroma of fried bacon filled the house. The baby was drinking a bottle and crawling about the floor.

  "Smells terrific, but I hope you didn't go to this trouble just for us?" Sam said as he came into the kitchen and looked at his sister.

  "Of course I did. I'm celebrating, I have a brother now, and I couldn't be happier." Kasie smiled at them. "Did ya'll sleep well?"

  Lacey blushed, "Yes, thanks."

  "Good. I want to throw a big party, so you can meet all our friends and neighbors. And I want to know more about you. You've hardly spoke about yourself Sam." Kasie insisted.

  "That's because I'm rather boring." Sam laughed. Chayton smiled up at him.

  "I don't even know where you live." Kasie insisted.

  "Actually, not that far, I live just on the other side of the border, in California. I'm a forest ranger there." He admitted as they both sat at the table with Chayton.

  "Oh well, that's wonderful. Chayton works pretty close with the forest rangers here, I can tell you. Even does a little fire jumping too." Kasie admitted.

  "Really, that's pretty dangerous work," Sam frowned, "How long you been doing that?"

  "Quite some time now, Sam. I'm used to it. I figure as a logger I should pay back a little of what I take from Mother Nature. However, with my family enlarging all the time, I am thinking of quitting. I'm getting too old to be jumping out of airplanes, any way."

  Sam smiled, "I have a few friends into that. I worry every time they go out."

  Kasie whirled about, "Just like me…you are a lot like me Sam."

  Sam couldn't stop smiling. His sister was such a delightful woman.

  "At least you live close enough we can have Christmas and New Years and all the holidays together. I love that. And Lacey you'll just have to fly up on holidays and we won't take no for an answer."

  Sam glanced at Lacey. She had been quietly watching their interplay. She smiled, but didn't comment. Sam hung his head. He'd barely known Lacey a little over a week and already he was contemplating a much deeper relationship with her. Reality told him he needed to slow down, think about it, but his heart wrestled with his mind on that one.

  Looking at her now he wondered where the shy woman he'd first met went. Since he gotten to know Lacey, he'd noticed the changes in her and wondered if he had created them.

  Her ability to love amazed him. He needed her, he knew that, but would she stay? Was he ready to offer her more? Had they merely known each other a little over a week?

  His mind cluttered with proceeding with finding out more about his real family, and getting serious with Lacey.

  Still he wanted to unravel all the mysteries here first.

  All her questions came to mind. Would it solve anything to know what really happened? Was it that important to him? Must he dig up all the old ghosts and perhaps cause misery while he was at it?

  Later, Kasie pulled Sam aside.

  Kasie and Sam walked about the place together for a while and Sam asked her questions and told her a little more about himself.

  Lacey had wanted to stay at the house and let them be alone.

  Chayton watched her closely. "You're in love wi
th him, aren't you?"

  "Yes…I guess I am…am I that obvious?" she blushed.

  "Well, believe me; I was in the same boat a few years back. I was so crazy about that sister of his, you wouldn't believe. How long have you known him?" Chayton asked her as he got the meat ready for the grill.

  "Only a little over a week. And I know that isn't long. He was on a quest to find his real family; I was on a dare to see how much I could do on a vacation…alone. We were both kind of miserable, and then we found each other. I didn't intend to let things get serious between us, but you know how that goes I'm sure."

  "Oh yeah, I know. Well, does he return your affections?"

  "Yes, very much so. However, we've only known each other a short while and we live far away from each other. I'm afraid it's kind of doomed."

  "I don't know. I took one look at Kasie years ago, when she was still just a kid, and I knew I wanted her, right then. I just didn't know how to let her know it. We'd have been married much longer if I had…." Chayton smiled.

  "I'm just afraid this is just a fling for him though. I don't know. And I've changed around him."

  "For the better, I hope," Chayton laughed.

  "I don't know…I'm afraid after we leave here, that I'll have to go home and forget him. I certainly don't expect him to propose marriage or anything, and I live in Texas, he lives in California. It wouldn’t be easy to date him any longer." Lacey reasoned aloud.

  Chayton glanced at her and sat down to stare into her eyes, "Love changes a lot of things. But don't give up so soon. He's preoccupied with his new family and the mystery behind it, but that will die down in time. Then he'll begin to miss you and that's when you will know."

  "Know what?" Lacey asked.

  "Whether it's real or not." Chayton smiled softly into her face. "I don't know if the man knows it or not, but he needs you. I saw how you kept him calm when he talked with Kasie. I saw how just reaching for your hand made a difference. I'd say the man is smitten."

  Lacey laughed softly, "I guess time will tell, huh?"

  "I'm pulling for you, Lacey." Chayton admitted.

  "Sam doesn't know how lucky he is to have such nice relatives."

  ***

  "So what's still bothering you Sam about all of this?" Kasie asked him as they got out of earshot of the others.

  "It's uncanny how you can spot my troubles, and you barely know me…" Sam smiled at her.

  Kasie stared into his eyes, "I know, we barely know each other, but somehow I feel as though I've known you all along. It's the weirdest thing."

  "It's Lacey." Sam sighed.

  "I thought you two got along great." Kasie stopped walking and turned to look at him.

  "We do…almost too well. I've only known her a little over a week. However, it seems much longer. And I think we've both changed some in that time too. It's the time span more than anything. In a few days, I'll go back to work, she'll go back to Texas, and I'm not sure how I feel about it."

  Kasie eyed him closely now, "You're not sure if you love her?"

  Sam pulled at a low branch of a pine and pulled a cone from it. "Can you really fall in love that quickly?"

  Kasie watched him a moment, "You ask a woman that?"

  "I love her, Kasie, I'm sure of that much. I just don't know if I should push it."

  "How does she feel?"

  "I think the same…"

  "Then what in the world is the problem? I mean if you love each other, isn't that enough? Does time have anything at all to do with the heart?" Kasie asked.

  "It's just so soon, and she's a practical kind of woman…I'm not sure she'd believe me if I told her how nuts I am about her." Sam said looking over the horizon.

  "Not telling her would be the real mistake, Sam." Kasie said putting her hand over his.

  "I almost lost Chayton once, and every time I think about it, I cringe. We've been so happy together. I can't imagine my life without him. When we aren't together, life is a mess."

  Kasie laughed.

  Sam watched her for a long moment, "I'm so glad for you. I already think a lot of him. I see how he dotes on you."

  "Life is short Sam, don't waste it with regrets." Kasie advised. "But what I want to know is…what exactly are you planning to do about everything?'

  "I'm not sure. I've been wrestling with it for some time, and on one hand I think I should find out about my grandparents and if they were behind all this mystery. Then again, they are dead and gone and would I hurt or involve others if I dug up the truth? Maybe I should just count my blessings and let it go…"

  "But you want to know, don't you?" Kasie watched his face.

  "Yeah…I want to know…" he sighed.

  "Is there any way you can find out without dragging up a lot of other stuff. I mean, maybe just talking to the doctor would help."

  "What if he's involved?"

  "I guess that part is up to you. Do you want justice served, or do you just want to know?"

  Sam eyed her for a moment. "My mother died, thinking I was dead. Her life was wasted because of me. How can I possibly right that wrong?"

  "Not because of you, but because of the mistakes made by others. You can't right any wrongs, Sam. However, you can satisfy yourself by finding out. I think if I were you…I'd contact the doctor and see if he knows anything. Perhaps he could tell you everything and put you at ease."

  "I really don't want to hurt anyone with this. It's in the past and like you said, you can't right the wrongs of it. All I want is the truth."

  "Then go for it Sam, because she died worrying over you, I don't want you to suffer as she did, over her." Kasie smiled up at him.

  He stared at her. "You hit the head on the nail, Kasie. I'll talk to Rosie and see if I can arrange a private meeting with this doctor."

  "Good, and let me know too, will ya. I feel so incredibly bad about your mother, and wish there was something that could have been done. But at least her son won't suffer over it much longer."

  As they strolled back towards the backyard, Sam watched Lacey with the kids and saw another side of her he liked. She was such a sweet woman, and so giving. Yet, did she really feel as strongly as he did about them being together, they had never really gone there. In fact, they avoided talking about the future and he knew it.

  "Now," Kasie turned to him. "I want to throw a party tomorrow, if you'll stay a while longer and let you meet Tanka, Chayton's brother and so many of our neighbors. Will you stay?"

  "I'd love to…that is if Lacey doesn’t' mind…" Sam said loud enough for Lacey to hear.

  "Mind what?" she smiled as she handed him a hot dog and plate of chips.

  "Kasie wants to throw us a party tomorrow, can we stay?" Sam asked his eyes searching hers.

  "Sounds wonderful to me…I like parties myself." Lacey agreed, going to get herself a hotdog now and sitting beside Sam as they ate at the big long table outside.

  Chayton tended to the hotdogs as Kasie came and wrapped her arms around him. "We had a nice long walk…"

  "Glad you are getting your exercise…and why don't you let me handle the party tomorrow. I know you are overdoing just a bit." Chayton advised.

  "Oh…all right, if you insist. I won't argue. You spoil me too much, Chayton, that's why I love you so much." Kasie laughed, kissing him on the cheek.

  "And I never tire of hearing that." Chayton laughed.

  "When is your baby due?" Lacey asked as she passed the mustard to Sam.

  "Any day now, actually, I'm overdue. The doc said I should walk more, so Sam gave me a good work out today."

  "Good grief, you should have told me. I had no idea…" Sam looked concerned and Lacey smiled at his sincere apology.

  "Sam, I called my mechanic and he towed your car to his shop. Said it would be ready in a couple of days. I hope you don't mind." Chayton asked as they all inhaled the hotdogs.

  "I'd almost forgotten about it. Thank you." Sam looked a little sheepish. "Hope it's nothing too serious."

  "Well
Doug is really good with cars, so he should be able to tell you real quick what kind of problem you have. And…he's reasonable."

  Sam smiled, shook his head, and grabbed Lacey's hand to squeeze it, "You guys have been so thoughtful I can't get over it. This has definitely been very good for me, coming here."

  Kasie came closer, "Oh Sam, you don't know how long I've wanted a brother…"

  ***

  After making love well into the night, Sam and Lacey were relaxed and feeling like part of the family when they joined Kasie and Chayton. The house was already full of people and Kasie pulled Sam and Lacey around the room introducing them to friends and Tanka and Gina.

  Sam studied Tanka a long while, "Wow, I can sure tell the family resemblance there."

  Tanka laughed, "It's our Indian blood I’m sure…."

  Gina came up to them quickly putting her arm around her husband, "So, the two of you married?"

  "Uh…no," Lacey explained. "Actually, we haven't known each other long…we sorta of vacationed together."

  "How interesting. Well, sometimes it doesn't take long to see you are meant for each other." Gina's mouth twitched and she smiled at her. "Tanka and I knew it almost instantly too."

  Lacey tried to smile but it fell a little short. Could everyone see how in love she was with Sam? She hoped not. Because she was nearly sure he didn't feel the same. Not that his lovemaking wasn't spectacular, but she knew he was so preoccupied being here and even though she wanted this for him, she wanted to be important to him to, and it wouldn't happen here.

  Gina must have sensed her unease and pulled her aside.

  "Look, I can see how it is. Sam's all tied up in this family thing right now and not giving you an ounce of attention really. But when things settle out, he'll see how important you are to him. Why…even I noticed how he reaches for you all the time, as though you are his lifeline. He'll see it…eventually, just be patient with him till he does. Sometimes they just don't know what hit them till it does…know what I mean?" Gina chuckled.